In the spotlight.

AL player of the week: New York Yankees right-hander Roger...

September 23, 2001

AL player of the week: New York Yankees right-hander Roger Clemens. The 18-year veteran became the first major-league pitcher to go 20-1 after defeating the White Sox 6-3 Wednesday. The five-time Cy Young Award recipient has won 16 consecutive decisions, last losing May 20 at Seattle. The 39-year-old Clemens is 280-143 in his career--27th on the all-time victory list--and his 3,696 strikeouts are just five behind Bert Blyleven for third on the all-time list. Clemens is 29-3 since July 2, 2000.

NL player of the week: St. Louis third baseman Albert Pujols. The 21-year-old rookie went 8-for-19 with two home runs, 13 RBIs and six runs scored during the week. Pujols, a right-handed hitter from the Dominican Republic, is the favorite for NL rookie of the year. Through Friday, he was hitting .337 with 36 home runs and 125 RBIs, giving him the NL rookie records for homers and RBIs and leaving him 14 total bases shy of Dick Allen's 352 rookie mark set in 1964 with the Phillies. Pujols' 104 runs scored make him the fourth Cardinals rookie with 100.

Player to watch: Cleveland right fielder Juan Gonzalez. He is closing in on 400 home runs. The 31-year-old right-handed slugger has 397. Following Sunday's game at Minnesota, Cleveland hosts Toronto from Monday through Wednesday and then Minnesota next weekend. Gonzalez, who has 33 career home runs against the Twins and 20 against the Blue Jays, would be the second player to reach 400 this season; Sammy Sosa hit his 400th on May 16.